Portable stile

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a portable stile for scaling fences, involving a panel adapted to be suspended about the upper end of a fence post and having affixed thereto the plurality of loops, each providing a foot hold to enable one to climb up and over a fence.

[ June 18, 1974 United States Patent [191 Mikkelson PORTABLE STILE 3/1884 Borgfeldt........................... 182/190 560,713 5/1896 Herrmann...........................182/190 0 d a h C a M R O M a .m e 4 r e m m x E w m r P. W. 4a w 3m a 0W Ba mu L MC 6 h ma S4 r 5 e04 VH9 m m V n I 1 6 7 .l.

[22] Filed: May 10, 1973 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a P01181316 S1116 f0! scalin g fences, involving a panel adapted to be suspended about the upper end of a fence post and having affixed thereto the plurality of loops, each providing a foot hold to enable one to climb up and over a fence.

[52] U.S. 182/190, 182/189, 182/196 [51] Int. E06c H52 [58] Field of 182/190, 189, 196

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 256,874 Borgfeldt............................ l82/190 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PORTABLE STlLE My invention relates to hiking or hunting over the country side, and more particularly to overcoming obstacles such as fences which occur frequently across the path of travel and present hazards, particularly if of the barbed wire type.

Among the objects of my invention are:

1. To provide a novel and improved means for enabling one to scale a fence with a minimum of effort and risk;

2. To provide such means in the form of a portable stile adapted to be supported by the fence to be scaled; and

3. To provide a novel and improved portable stile which may be folded or rolled into a small volume for storage or portability, when not in use;

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a fence of the barbed wire type, and illustrating the present invention as to its manner of use;

FIG. 2 is a view depicting one manner of fabricating the device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view depicting a somewhat modified form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view in elevation illustrating the stile of the present invention installed on a fence post, ready for use.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention, the same is applicable for use in scaling a fence 1 involving a supporting post 3, and is particularly suitable in scaling a fence of the barbed wire type where the post is one of many, across which are strung a plurality of strands 5 of barbed wire.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, the same comprises a panel or strap 7 having means, preferably in the form of an opening such as a slit 9 at one end, for removably suspending the panel from the upper end portion of such post,with a portion 11 of the panel hanging therefrom.

On this hanging portion are affixed a plurality of spaced foot holds or toe supports 13 for use by an indi vidual to climb over or scale such fence.

The panel or strap is preferably of fabric possessing sufficient strength to support an individual, and for such purpose, may be made of nylon or material of equivalent or greater strength. Parachute webbing of woven nylon is admirably suited for the purpose, the slit 9 being attainable with a hot knife capable of fusing the nylon thread as it cuts through the webbing, thus leaving a narrow opening with a fused edge.

When applied to a post, the slit opening provides a tight fit about the upper end of the post so as to snub tightly against the post upon the application of weight thereto. Such snubbing action may be obtainable to an effective degree with any hole which is at variance with the contour of the post to which the stile is applied, and since such posts are normally rough and irregular in contour, such snubbing action will inevitably occur. The slit opening, however, will offer greater snubbing action.

If the panel is not of fusable material, one can reinforce the periphery of the hole, such as by the use of woven nylon rope.

Each foot support or toe hold may be fabricated from a strip of fabric such as nylon, by crossing the ends thereof to form a loop 19 and then stitching the ends to the panel, the stitched portion preferably including the points of crossover.

When put to use, one panel is suspended from the upper end of the post and left to hang on one side of the fence, and preferably, a second panel is similarly suspended from the upper end of the post and left to hang on the opposite side of the fence. By grasping the upper end of the post with ones hands, an individual is thus provided with facilities for climbing up one side of the fence and lowering himself down the other side, following which, the stile may be removed and rolled up or folded into a small volume, to be placed in one s pocket or knapsack for storage until again needed.

If desired, the two panels with their holes coinciding, may be sewed together end to end.

The equivalent thereof may be fabricated from a single panel or strap 21 with a hole 23 in the middle and suitably reinforced, and with the foot supports or toe holds 13 to one side of the hole, facing in a direction opposite that of the corresponding foot supports or toe holds to the other side of the opening.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be apparent that the same fulfills all the objects thereof, and while I have illustrated and described the same in considerable detail, it is apparent that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and l, accordingly, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable stile for use in scaling a fence involving a supporting post, comprising a panel of material, said panel having means forming a loop for removably encircling the upper end portion of such post with a portion of said panel hanging, and foot support means on said hanging portion for use by an individual desiring to scale such fence, said panel being capable of supporting the weight of such individual when said panel is affixed to such post and said foot support means including a strip of flexible material having its ends crossing each other at an angle and fastened at its crossing ends to said panel to form a front facing loop into which one may conveniently place ones foot for support.

2. A portable stile in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said material being sufficiently thin and flexible to permit rolling of same into a compact unit for storage.

3. A portable stile in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said means for removably attaching the panel to such post including said panel having a hole therethrough of a size to straddle such post.

4. A portable stile in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said loop forming a hole located in substantially the middle of said panel with foot support means to either side thereof along the longitudinal axis of said panel and with the foot support means to one side of said hole being reversed with respect to those to the other side of said hole, whereby, when said panel is installed about a post, said foot support means will all be properly oriented.

5. A portable stile for use in scaling a fence involving a supporting post, comprising a panel of material, said weight of such individual when said panel is affixed to such post.

6. A portable stile in accordance with claim 5, characterized by said foot support means including a plurality of loops of flexible material affixed to each hanging portion, with the loops on one hanging portion directed oppositely from those on the other hanging portion,

with respect to said hole. 

1. A portable stile for use in scaling a fence involving a supporting post, comprising a panel of material, said panel having means forming a loop for removably encircling the upper end portion of such post with a portion of said panel hanging, and foot support means on said hanging portion for use by an individual desiring to scale such fence, said panel being capable of supporting the weight of such individual when said panel is affixed to such post and said foot support means including a strip of flexible material having its ends crossing each other at an angle and fastened at its crossing ends to said panel to form a front facing loop into which one may conveniently place one''s foot for support.
 2. A portable stile in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said material being sufficiently thin and flexible to permit rolling of same into a compact unit for storage.
 3. A portable stile in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said means for removably attaching the panel to such post including said panel having a hole therethrough of a size to straddle such post.
 4. A portable stile in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said loop forming a hole located in substantially the middle of said panel with foot support means to either side thereof along the longitudinal axis of said panel and with the foot support means to one side of said hole being reversed with respect to those to the other side of said hole, whereby, when said panel is installed about a post, said foot support means will all be properly oriented.
 5. A portable stile for use in scaling a fence involving a supporting post, comprising a panel of material, said panel having means including a hole at an intermediate point between the ends thereof for removably attaching same to the upper end portion of such post with a portion of said panel hanging to one side of such fence and a portion hanging to the other side of such fence, and foot support means on each of said hanging portions with corresponding foot support means substantially equally spaced from said intermediately located attaching means, for use by an individual desiring to scale such fence, said panel being capable of supporting the weight of such individual when said panel is affixed to such post.
 6. A portable stile in accordance with claim 5, characterized by said foot support means including a plurality of loops of flexible material affixed to each hanging portion, with the loops on one hanging Portion directed oppositely from those on the other hanging portion, with respect to said hole. 